We were in Class 9th. Our first period was library on Thursdays. But since I was trying for the volleyball school team we had to miss assembly and go for games practice. One such Thursday, I came a little late as I was tired and didn’t quite feel the urging need to be on time for library. So I dropped in late and the Library ma’am asked me why I was late. In a momentary lapse of reason I said I was called by Saroj Sharma ma’am (our geography cum class teacher). She very bluntly asked me to get it in writing from her. Now I was very scared and approached a class Saroj Sharma ma’am was teaching. I knocked on the door as I gulped my fear down the throat and asked her if I could speak with her for 2 minutes.

She came out and asked me the matter and I explained to her. Since I was very scared, I literally begged her to give me something in writing as I profusely apologized for using her name for getting out of a sticky situation. She first asked me to calm down. Then what she did changed the way I take my decisions in life forever. She said she would not give me anything in writing; rather she would walk with me till outside the library and hear me tell Library ma’am the truth. She was calm as she was firm and she said she would help me but not the way I wanted.

So I went back to the Library and confessed to our Library ma’am that I had lied. She scolded me a bit but then she said “Lying is never the answer” and asked me to sit down. I felt so relieved as she was usually very strict. As I turned and moved to a nearby seat I watched Saroj Sharma ma’am smile and walk away to her class. Till this date, when I think I might get in trouble, the best thing I ever think of doing is coming out with the truth.

I am Sourav Mukherjee